Benefits include...

• New hire incentive payment of one thousand five hundred dollars, paid in two installments.
• Eligibility for health, paid dental, and paid vision coverage.
• 401(k) plan, with 3% match.
• Paid time off, sick time, and vacation time. 
• Ten company-paid holidays plus two floating holidays.
• Tuition Reimbursement.
• Pay differential for bilingual staff.

SUMMARY: Under the direct supervision of the Program Director, the Housing Counselor is responsible for all realms of housing counseling which include but not limited to conducting homebuyer education workshops and foreclosure education, housing counseling and credit counseling services, including administrative responsibilities. This position requires the use of independent judgment and decision-making skills.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Be committed to the Vision and Mission of Community Progress 
• Complete (within 18 months) and maintain National Certifications for Housing Counselors to include certifications in Homeownership and Foreclosure to include completion of continuing education requirements.
• Maintain professional Certifications; attend training, seminars, and conferences as needed; attend CPC training and committee meetings.
• Market and recruit eligible program participants for appropriate services. 
• Complete intake and assess eligible clients' current financial situation through various documents to include, a tri-merge credit report, pay stubs, bank statements, award letters, child support documents, mortgage or lease documents.
• Develop appropriate action plans for clients based on services required (rental counseling, pre purchase counseling, post purchase counseling, credit and budget counseling, and foreclosure counseling).
• Engage clients in developing spending plans, savings plans, and plans to address credit issues.
• Educate clients on issues of Fair Housing, and Predatory Lending.
• Educate clients on processes of eviction and foreclosure.
• Maintain strict confidentiality of all client information to include secured storage of client files and encryption of electronic transmissions of client information.
• Follow up with clients to continue engagement in the program services.
• Monitor progress towards goals on a monthly, bimonthly basis as appropriate.
• Refer clients to community resources as appropriate and represent program/agency on community, professional, or other groups as needed.
• Represent program/agency on community, professional, or other groups as needed.
• Assist clients in applications for rental housing, loan modification, or emergency mortgage assistance as needed.
• Prepare materials for homebuyer and financial literacy educational workshops.
• Market, register clients, conduct and coordinate homebuyer and financial literacy education workshops.
• Ensure access to all clients through interpreters (sign or language) when necessary. 
• Assist in the completion of reports for assigned programs in a timely and efficient manner.
• Build relationships with lenders, realtors, other housing and community services throughout the community to develop referral sources and to keep up to date on information and products.
• Contact and advocate with loan servicers for the successful resolution of delinquencies.
• Contact and advocate with landlords for the successful resolution of landlord tenant conflicts.
• Participate in meetings, presentations, workshops etc. to promote housing programs to residents, partners, and funding agencies.
• Establish and update office procedures for coordinating and providing the housing counseling services of the agency. 
• Works in partnership with program directors and staff to integrate and coordinate services across programs, and advance practices that reflect a client-centered, relationship-based care model. Develops and maintains strong working relationships internally and with community partners.
• Assist with evaluating the housing counseling services provided by the agency.
• Comply with all requirements of contracts and agreements.
• Maintain the database associated with all housing counseling services.
• Create and maintain participant files in accordance with PHFA and HUD requirements.

EDUCATION AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's degree in social work, housing, counseling, housing planning, real estate, banking, or a related field.
• Any combination of work and experience equivalent to a bachelor's degree
• At least 2 years of related experience in housing counseling, credit counseling, banking and or real estate.
• HUD certification REQUIRED.
• NCEH housing counseling certification or credit counseling certification preferred.
• Bi-Lingual preferred (Spanish/English)
• Reliable transportation and a valid PA driver's license REQUIRED.

This position is primarily on-site, with occasional opportunities to work from home. Travel to conferences/seminars may be required. Visits to other CPC sites and/or business partner's locations will be required as needed. 

EOE